Monday, March 22, 2010

ORTHOTIC HEELS ON THE RED CARPET

From corsets to foot-binding, women have been suffering in the name of fashion for centuries.

Thanks to Beverly Hills-based footwear line Dana Davis, high-heel lovers can breathe a sigh of relief. Now in its third season & selling strong locally at Nordstrom in Los Angeles & online, the label features Chic styles with invisible comfort technology such as customized arch supports & strategic cushioning. Imagine heels that may actually be good for you?

With designs including embellished flat sandals, driving moccasins and the 41/2-inch platform heels she introduced for spring-summer 2010, Dana Davis just might be the brand to make a comfort shoe go mainstream in the fashion world. "These aren't two-hour shoes, they are eight- to 10-hour shoes," says Davis, 41, who resides in Brentwood with her Jack Russell terrier, Spike. "You can wear them to an event and still walk home."

Although companies such as Cole Haan and Kenneth Cole have comfort lines, Davis' is the first to feature built-in orthotics (developed with patent-pending technology) in a high-fashion shoe, particularly heels. Her styles, priced at approx $275USD to $450USD, are designed so that you can also easily put in your own orthotic if needed. "Previously, there was no dress shoe you could put an orthotic into, so this is a big step," says podiatric surgeon Dr. Robert K. Lee, who says his patients like to wear high-fashion shoes but can develop foot problems as a result.

It's no surprise that Dana Davis shoes have ended up on the red carpet. Penelope Cruz, Sarah McLachlan, Carrie Ann Inaba & Anne Hathaway (who wore a pair when she danced across the stage with Hugh Jackman at 2009's Oscars) are all fans of the shoes. This year Vivica A. Fox wore them to this year's Academy Awards.